Doris Day and Rock Hudson

Guest Author - Katy Cacolice

William Powell and Myrna Loy, Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, and Lauren Bacall and Gregory Peck may have been some of the most glamorous couples to grace the silver screen, but the title 'Hollywood's Most Adorable Couples' goes to Doris Day and Rock Hudson. It simply began with a little 'Pillow Talk'.

The quirky comedy is about a successful interior decorator, Jane Morrow, and a ruggedly handsome composer Brad Allen, who share the same 'party line'. Morrow grows agitated by Allen's constant use of the line to talk to his multiple girlfriends. The pair have never met, until Allen discovers that they share a mutual friend, Jonathan Forbes (played by Tony Randall), who repeatedly throws himself at Morrow. Allen is attracted to the wholesome but hotheaded blond, and decides to woo her by posing as a wealthy Texan rancher. The plan eventually grows into complete chaos, but eventually ends with the lovestruck couple getting more 'pillow talk'.

The 1959 rom-com was a surprising box-office success, but it wasn't released into theatres without a little bit of trouble. Big studio execs refused to release the comedy into theatres because they believed the genre was completely out of style, and stars like Doris Day and Rock Hudson were has-beens. Producer Ross Hunter convinced Sol Schwartz, who owned The Palace Theatre in New York, to book the film for a two-week run. The film was a smash hit, grossing almost $19 million at the box-office. The film nabbed some Academy Award attention as well. It was nominated for five times, including Doris Day for Best Actress, who ultimately lost to Simone Signoret for "Room at the Top" (1960). However, it won for Best Screenplay.

The upbeat chemistry between Day and Hudson opened doors for two more comedies: "Lover Come Back" (1961), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay, and "Send Me No Flowers" (1964). The simple sight of Hudson and Day, and fans all over the world know that they are in for a charming and upbeat relationship.

In 2009, "Pillow Talk" was entered into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant and will be preserved for all time.